*Toot toot!* All aboard!

How would you like to be able to travel on one of these?

Or then, how about one of these things?

Well, if you live in England, or the US, I am truly sorry, but you will have to travel. We have France's famed TGV service, German DB's ICE, Japan Rails supersonic looking N500 and the odd-looking but ridiculously fast N700.

In the UK, we have 2 options only.

The only high speed rail available in the UK is the Eurostar running along the new Hi Speed 1 line to the Eurotunnel, and the introduction of the new 140 mph Javelin service in the south east, again, using the new Hi Speed 1 line.

The rest of the UK enjoys speeds significantly under those enjoyed by travellers in Europe, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. The East Coast line will run between 120-130mph, with the West Coast line at 125mph. OK, Virgins Pendolino service on the West Coast line is a fantastic train. Comfortable, reasonably brisk, new and shiny. But it covers the line from London to Manchester in just over 2 hours.

The Tokkaido line in Japan is at least 50% longer, and yet, the N700 Shinkansen "Nozomi" service does the run in the same time! Not only that, but you have 12 car trains running at 15 minute intervals at peak times. It offers well over 20,000 seats an hour. Significantly over the West Coast line!

However, this may all be about to change. Network Rail has, today, announced its preferred route for the construction of Britain's first real high speed line. The route will run from London, to Birmingham, to Manchester, and on to Edinburgh and Glasgow. It will also include a spur out to Liverpool.

Not surprisingly, MP's serving the east of the country have got angry over this, saying the line should run to Leeds and Sheffield. Unfortunately, I have some sad news for you.

There are 2 main reasons why the west coast gets the upgrade first.

Firstly, Manchester and Birmingham are the top 2 cities in the UK (after London), and both account for significantly far more business and trade than Sheffield and Leeds.

Next. We have had £9 billion splashed on the West Coast Main Line. EVEN after all that, the capacity of the line is expected to be reached within the next 20 years. Trains can run faster, but capacity has not been significantly enhanced. Trains are still basically the same size.

What are the drawbacks of a high speed line? Er. Apart from being crushingly expensive at the start, not really big on the drawbacks side. For example, in Japan, to Joetsu Shinkansen line from Tokyo to Niigata (Does not go anywhere near Joetsu!) brings Tokyo to about 2 hours from the seaport city on the Japan sea coast. This line is reputedly one of the most expensive lines in history. Clocking up $24,000,000 per kilometre. However, the line was built to encourage regional development along the route.

The estimated cost of the new line in the UK is about £34 billion. A huge number. However, it is estimated it will deliver a boost to the UK economy over the life of the track in the region of £55 billion. So it easily pays for itself.

So, apart from the NIMBYism, and the cost, what are the benefits. Well, you get to ride in something massive, like the MAX Toki

Its a massive two deck Shinkansen. It may not look like it, but this can do the run from Tokyo to Niigata at around 240kph! How cool is that! It can out pace most cars! And holds hundreds of people!

Next, a high speed line is good for the environment. High speed rail is proven to be far less carbon intensive per passenger kilometre than pretty much any form of transport (not including walking or bicycles.) Not only that, but high speed lines cut the need for flights. I enjoy flying, but I can freely admit that flying is not exactly a cuddly green form of transport. On many lines, the competition has pretty much died out, with the rail replacing the need for planes on city to city runs.

It develops a boost to the local economy. More people can move quickly from one place to another. Businesses can reach more people and can spread out. And they bring a huge amount of employment directly, which then spills out and helps spread employment in the cities they live.

But best of all, they are unbelievably cool. Cars are great. Planes look amazing, until they disappear into the clouds. A train looks magnificent whipping through the country. A long snake-like bullet passing by with barely any sound!

I say go for it!